Palm Beach County wants Legislature to allow more local gambling

Local lawmakers lay out legislative priorities

Gambling, guns and money — it always comes down to money — are among Palm Beach County's top priorities going into the Legislature's January session.

The County Commission met with the local state legislators Monday in West Palm Beach to discuss what to fight for and fight against in Tallahassee.

At the top of some local leaders' to-do list is getting the county dealt in on new proposals to expand gambling in South Florida.

The Legislature is being asked to allow Las Vegas-style casino resorts in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Palm Beach County leaders say they want at least the chance to ask local voters to approve allowing slot machines at the Palm Beach Kennel Club near Palm Beach International Airport.

"Let the people speak," state Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach, said about the proposal to hold a referendum in November.

But state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, who leads the county's legislative delegation, questions the influx of gambling proposals from counties trying to angle for more gambling beyond what's proposed in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Gambling supporters say expanding the sector means more tourism-related jobs and tax revenue, but critics contend it conflicts with Florida's attempts to attract families to beaches and theme parks.

"Strap in. It's going to be a long ride," Bogdanoff said.

In another uphill legislative battle, two local state lawmakers plan to challenge the influence of the National Rifle Association and try to restore some of local governments' abilities to restrict firearms.

Sachs and state Rep. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, plan to file legislation that once again would allow local governments to forbid people from carrying guns into parks, government buildings and child care centers.

"Common sense says it's not a place where you bring your firearm," Sachs said about the proposal.

Many cities and counties this year did away with such restrictions after a state law, pushed by the NRA, established penalties on local government officials who try to enforce local gun rules.

The Legislature in the 1980s reserved the right to restrict firearms to the state, but local governments had been approving rules of their own anyway.

The new punishments for local officials approved this year, including $5,000 fines and ultimately removal from office, prompted cities and counties to do away with their rules.

Aside from the gun fight, county officials want lawmakers to fend off efforts suggested by Gov. Rick Scott to redirect millions of dollars in government employee retirement plan savings from county coffers to the state.

The Legislature this year required government employees to start contributing about 3 percent of their pay to their retirement funds. That translated to about $16.5 million in savings for Palm Beach County government.

If the state's potential "recapture" proposal requires the county to turn over that money, it would mean a new budget shortfall and more spending cuts to county government, County Administrator Robert Weisman told lawmakers Monday.